I had the gen out again doing a few tests. One thing that I don't understand is this:RV fridge on 120v (a heater) by itself VA (and watts same) 355MW by itself 1426 (watts 1340--was some PF with the MW)So to run both at once, you would expect 1426 + 355 = 1781But on the Kill-A-Watt, it was 1650 VA. How come?Is it perhaps an example of how running a resistive load with the MW affects things? I only have this one example. Or is it some other reason?

fridge heater is resistive loadMW is an inductive & capacitive loadcombined they are a 'reactive' loadyou are trying to do simple math on a complex equationneed some electrical engineering classes to do those equationsand you need to know the values of all the 'variables'

Some things I simply accept at face value.

Two possible factors:(1)Could it be that the voltage is lower with both devices running together?(2)With a small generator, running the microwave will result in the waveform changing. More so if it's not an inverter generator. Adding a resistive load results in lessening the waveform corruption. Can see this only with a scope. Measuring each device individually while both are running might yield a small clue or two.

MrWizard is spot on.AC "electronics" and DC "electronics" ARE two different creatures when it comes to mathematical computations..To fully understand and make the math work can often lead to the use of Calculus.. You cannot simply add and subtract to make the numbers work in AC voltages due to Inductance, capacitance and resistance that your AC loads WILL present.The cleanliness and accuracy of the generator WAVEFORM also plays a key roll in just how accurate your "Killowatt" meter will end up.. Poor quality sine waves OR Modified Sine waves do not "play well" with the Killowatt meter.. Additionally, you ARE using an instrument to measure AC that I suspect is NOT very highly "calibrated" and trying to use it as the source of "truth".The "Kilowatt" meter is effectively like trying to use a sledge hammer and a railroad spike to to fix a Rolex watch, just not enough FINE DETAIL and most likely a lot of ERROR to work with..Rather than spinning your wheels, sometimes you just have to "accept" that the results may be less than what you want due to variables like how accurate your meter is, how accurate the gen waveforms are and how reactive your loads are..Nearly 30+ yrs of electronic tech experience talking..

A Great Question, and some Great Observations!!

Adding VAs Gen Running Things Question | Good Sam Community

BFL13
Explorer II
Dec 01, 2018
Gdetrailer wrote:
BFL13, all good, no problem!

What you have discovered by accident is just "because" a manufacturer pastes a "marketing" hype rating on something and all the numbers look good on paper that it doesn't necessarily mean that it IS going to work in the real world.

My suspicions is the manufacturer of your gen has embellished some on the ratings which most likely explains why you are not able to fully make use of your corrent charging setup.

It is unfortunate but it does happen, a lot..

I also suspect that B&S like pretty much all other name brand manufacturers do not make this gen, it is most likely some Chinese Clone.. They simply make a commitment to purchase a few "containers" full of the gens and the third party manufacturer slaps the B&S name on it.. The other possibility is like so many many brand names now days, B&S is simply LICENSING their name and logo to a third party, the third party makes a deal with a Chinese importer to slap the name on the machine.

It is "assembled in China". Global economy for its parts.

The continuous rating of 1700w (VA really)is confirmed by my Kill-A-Watt when the overload red light first starts flashing at about 1700VA (slowly at first then faster as more load than that is added)

B & S says it is certified by CSA for motors and generators and is
"rated in accordance with PGMA (Portable Generator Manufactures' Association) standard PGMA G200 (Standard for Testing and Validating Performance of Portable Generators).

It is what it is, but it is not some flimsy piece of junk. It is actually very nice and seems well built.

Anyway, I like it after using it a few times, and finding out how it works. I got mine on sale ($549 vs $800 regular Can --about $412 US vs $600 US ) so I got my money's worth for sure. I think the regular price is a bit steep and they come up on sale here every few months anyway.

The Honda 2200 with its 1800w rating would solve my issues at 1700w, but at considerably more expense. They don't come on sale.
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Dec 01, 2018
BFL13, all good, no problem!

What you have discovered by accident is just "because" a manufacturer pastes a "marketing" hype rating on something and all the numbers look good on paper that it doesn't necessarily mean that it IS going to work in the real world.

My suspicions is the manufacturer of your gen has embellished some on the ratings which most likely explains why you are not able to fully make use of your corrent charging setup.

It is unfortunate but it does happen, a lot..

I also suspect that B&S like pretty much all other name brand manufacturers do not make this gen, it is most likely some Chinese Clone.. They simply make a commitment to purchase a few "containers" full of the gens and the third party manufacturer slaps the B&S name on it.. The other possibility is like so many many brand names now days, B&S is simply LICENSING their name and logo to a third party, the third party makes a deal with a Chinese importer to slap the name on the machine.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 01, 2018
Mex,

What are the magnets and steel plate used for?
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Dec 01, 2018
The original Hong Yee spark plug?
Twenty Yanks

Replace with quality spark plug.
Two yanks
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Dec 01, 2018

8Pc Super Strong N52 Neodymium Magnet 1.26" x 1/8" Discs, the World’s Strongest & Most Powerful Rare Earth Magnets by Applied Magnets AMAZON

GOOP stick 2 onto each generator leg. 2nd sticks magnetically

1/8" steel plate with enough free border to place your foot anywhere. I place mine on 2 concrete blocks laid flat.
MrWizard
Moderator
Dec 01, 2018
i try to stay above 50%
and i don't do 50-80, unless there is NO other option

the generator is working , don't sweat it

if it was me ? use the built in Onan, and also don't wait for 50% before recharging

too much load for the small genny, even use the drive engine and alternator if i have too

my idea of having 400Ahrs is not just operate the inverter at night
but also not have to repeatably drag the batteries down to 50%, they will live longer going only to 70% or 60% than 50%, sooner or later they get replaced anyway
i use the genny everyday well most everyday, and if something happens and i have to skip a day, well the batteries started out fine, and i'm not critical because i didn't recharge the day before and they are now 50% and NO way or no time to charge, because something came up,
avoid Murphy if possible
BFL13
Explorer II
Dec 01, 2018
pianotuna wrote:
BFL13,

I would not go 70-90 as the speed of charging slows on your AGm's at 72.5% state of charge (not sure why cold perhaps?)

How cold will the battery bank be?

When actually camping instead of like today doing it backyard, the furnace would be on and the batts are inside, so I would have more capacity and a lower charging rate at the 75 amps. Means getting closer to 80% before end of Bulk.

I don't like the idea of wasting the allowed two hours at lower amps either. My best bet is to go over somewhere out of the trees and get some solar if the (very low) sun is shining at all, and do the portable gen while also idling for some alternator time. That way I can get maybe 90 amps. It is all circumstantial by each camping trip, so no panic. We manage.

Not full timing, so nothing is that vital. Just want to know what is possible now we have the little gen. I think I have that figured out now.
BFL13
Explorer II
Dec 01, 2018
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Shortcut answer...

NUMBER ONE

Mex, I had one of those 950 w jobs last year and posted lots about it on here back then. I gave up on it.

The problem was when you pulled the starter cord it would yank the gen over, and I couldn't figure a way to hold it down with my foot, or lash it down to something. Got rid of it.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 01, 2018
BFL13,

I would not go 70-90 as the speed of charging slows on your AGm's at 72.5% state of charge (not sure why cold perhaps?)

How cold will the battery bank be?
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Dec 01, 2018
Yes and there is a huge difference in wanting to understand the effects versus understanding the causes. Understanding the causes is much easier when I employ a electrical quality analyzer. Like when I found a short in a 25 Kw transformer mounted on a utility pole. Wotta hoot running to three different service drops. Jeez had that happened on a Delta or ZZ transformer we would have been SOL for two weeks. Incoming single phase 254 was imbalanced day and night. When one phase goes low the others go high.

I wanna thermal imager scan and EMF imager scan tools before I die.